TEXAS MUSIC AWARDS - Female Vocalist of the Year

The music business is a tough nut to crack and even harder if you are a woman. In spite of the women's movement and the many great women who have become legends and queens in Country Music, women still have to prove themselves. Could it be these six women have found the secret?

Female Vocalist of the Year

Season Ammons

for Wildfire

Houston TX

Julia Beers

for Julia Beers

Hughes Springs TX

Brooke Graham

for Pedigree

Fredricksburg TX

Kathryn Legendre

for Old Soul

Austin TX

Brennen Leigh

for Before the World Was Made

Austin TX

Amanda Mora

for Awaiting the Sound

Driftwood TX

SUE YOUNG

They say 'music soothes the savage beast'. I know that quote came long before Sue Young but they must have had a premonition of this woman with her crystalline vocal style. Whether she is singing in English or Spanish, her spiritualistic center shines.

As I listened to clips from each of her albums, I became mesmerized by the emotional quality of Sue's voice. The Albuquerque Journal calls her "one of the most versatile, heartfelt singer/ songwriters around." 

Just one of the many reasons she is among the nominees for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Good Luck and Country Blessings!

T.C. SMYTHE

If you listen to music out of Texas at all, the name T. C. Smythe should sound familiar. T.C. is part of the duo Smythe and Taylor.  While they are an awesome duo, T.C. is a talent on her own with a voice to be experienced.

Her strong Americana vocals on songs like Hummingbird, Cold Missouri Waters and Coyote Wind (from their These Rosita Hills LP) are great examples of why she is one of the nominees for Female Vocalist of the Year.

This is not the first time T.C. has been in this category. She was also nominated in 2006.


Good Luck and Country Blessings!

MYRNA SANDERS

Myrna Sanders is one of those ladies you just can't help but like.  Her music is soulful, blues, introspective and fun. Her current album, Big Head Diva, showcases Myrna at her best. With eleven tracks on an album that has been several years in the making, Myrna has given herself plenty of room to explore her  abilities as a singer, songwriter and musician.

If you have not heard Myrna perform, check out her MUSIC link for a sampling of why this lady is one of the nominees for Female Vocalist of the Year!


Good Luck and Country Blessings!

JESSIE SAMFORD

Jessie Samford is the only female in the five-member group comprising Parker Heights. Though Parker Heights has only been a group since 2006, the siblings spent a lot of years prior honing their skills and finding where they fit best within the group. When you hear Jessie's voice on tracks like Running Scared or Not yet (from their self-titled EP), you'll understand why she is one of the nominees for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Aside from a beautiful vocal range allowing her to translate any song into her own, she is also an accomplished mandolin player.

Good Luck, Jessie and Country Blessings!

ASHLEE ROSE

I'm starting the line-up off this week with Female Vocalist nominee Ashlee Rose.

Ashlee Rose is a South Texas native. It's been my experience, that only good things come out of South Texas and this young lady is no exception.
She is a talented guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. With many nominations and awards to her credentials, you could say she cut her teeth on the music business.

When you click on her name, you'll be taken to her webpage where Ashlee greets you with a tune from her current album, Songs In A Suitcase. My Boots  is a kicky little song that shows her fun side. While other songs on the album such as Crazy Over You and I Can't Make You Love Me show a softer, romantic side.


No breathy lyrics from this lady. Her voice control for such a young age is amazing.

This isn't Ashlee's first trip to the TMAs. She is a former Rising Star Award winner (2004 - at age 15) as well as having been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year (2007).

Good Luck, Ashlee Rose and Country Blessings!

Final Female Vocalist Nominee- Pauline Reese

Pauline Reese is not new to the Texas Music Triangle. She has been nominated multiple times since her first appearance on the list in 2006 when she was nominated for Record of the Year. She followed that up in 2007 as a nominee for Female Vocalist of the year (Austin) and Entertainer of the Year as well as winning Album of the Year for ‘Too Texas’. She was nominated again in 2008 (site does not tell us in which category). In 2010 she came back strong being nominated for Entertainer of the Year again – and was the first female to win the coveted award!

If you missed last year’s write-up about Pauline, you can check it out HERE.

This year, she is up for Female Vocalist of the Year for her powerful crystalline voice on the title track of her current album, Just Getting Started. The album is also nominated for Album of the Year. And finally, you’ll find Pauline Reese under the nominees for Entertainer of the Year. Wow! Her producer, Justin Pollard, is nominated for Producer of the Year for his work on the Just Getting Started album. Can she make it a Home Run?

Pauline is one of the hardest-working, multi-tasking artists I’ve had the pleasure of covering and I wish her the best this year.

Country Blessings!

Kathy Street

When we think of categories like Male or Female Vocalist of the Year, we usually think of an individual artist. Not this time. Kathy is part of the Byrd and Street Duo, sharing the stage with her long-time musical partner, Tommy Byrd. They are nominated for Duo of the Year again this year. Their first shot was back in 2009. This year, Kathy is also nominated as a soloist for her contribution to their current album, ‘Close Your Eyes’.

Kathy has been creating music since the age of nine. Though it would be a few more years before she would actually do something with her talent, Kathy has since been singing and participating in stage productions… all while raising a family. That’s quite a list of responsibilities. She also takes care of the business side of Byrd and Street. But through all of this, Kathy has subliminally showcased something very important. Don’t give up your dream.

Her vocal style lends itself nicely to the folksy/ Americana style she cut her vocal chords on. If you close your eyes and listen to ‘Close Your Eyes’, you can picture Kathy on a nightclub stage in the 1940s. The soft, sensual undertones will draw you in, making it crystal clear why, though part of a duet, Kathy Street deserves to be nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Country Blessings!

Female Vocalist Nominee - Lou Ann Petty

Lou Ann Petty is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year for her performance on the title track of her debut album, I’m Falling. The bluesy tone with an edgy undercurrent showcases her crystal clear voice with a rich traditional country sound. Her hit single, 'Sugar Cane', is one of thirteen tracks on the album. Whether it’s the bluesy notes of ‘Southern Man’, the toe-tapping ‘I Don’t Know Why’ or ‘Jackasses Need Not Apply’, every song will draw you into her world.

Grammy Award-Winning guitarist and producer, Brad Davis, describes Lou Ann best.

“…‘Don Williams meets Alison Krauss meets Tanya Tucker.’”

Lou Ann teamed up with Brad, at the 2011 CMA festival. Aside from both being from Texas and extremely talented, they share the same management company out of Nashville. I would say Blanchard Management Group (BMG) knows talent.

If you go to Lou Ann’s website and click the MEDIA button, you’ll find links to five outstanding YouTube videos, including her performance with Brad at the CMA festival on the GAC stage.

Seldom does an artist make me want to click the BUY IT! button. If you aren’t buying Lou Ann’s album, I’d love to hear why.

Country Blessings, Lou Ann, on your nomination!

Female Vocalist nominee - Courtney Reed

How many of us have at one point or another grabbed a hair brush or created a microphone from something and pretended to be a popular singer? Come on, you know you have! If you have music flowing through your veins at all, you wanted to be the next big recording star at some point in your life. Dreams are an important part of our growth. Whether we actually achieve our childhood dreams or create new ones as we grow older doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we DID DREAM!

Some of us, like Courtney Reed, went on to turn those dreams into reality. Over the years, while she worked to make her hearts desire a career, Courtney has been influenced by a wide variety of artists. Early on she was drawn to the sounds of Bonnie Raitt, the Judds and Patsy Cline as well as male vocalists like Willie Nelson and and Stevie Ray. She admits that as her style and voice has matured so has the well of inspiration to include Susan Tedeschi and Patty Griffin. The key element she hears within their sounds is the ability to connect with their audience and make a difference in someone’s life. If she can do that, than she is fulfilling her dream.

Her debut album, Somewhere Down This Road showcases some of her influences. From the soulful edge of Bonnie Raitt on the title track to something with a bit more Judds style on Stand Up and Face Love. Not only will you notice the nuances of those who’ve come before her but you’ll also hear Courtney Reed in her own passionate style. And it’s her passion that has brought her as a nominee for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Good Luck Courtney!

Welcome the Female Vocalist Nominees

The first of the five women we’re going to showcase is Cori Lynn. Cori is no stranger to performing and I’d say this recognition is long overdue. Peforming in the Ft. Worth area where she was born since the age of 7.

Her debut CD, Make It Easy For Me showcases Cori Lynn for who she is and where she is going in this business. People are taking notice. Her sound is sensuous and breathy on tracks like You Make Me Who I Am and Walk Through Walls with a undercurrent of a rock edge similar to Pat Benatar on the title track or Thirteen.

If you check out her website you can watch the full video for Make It Easy On Me.

Cori Lynn is a perfect example of what I’ve been saying all along. Texas music isn’t necessarily cowboy or country music. The roots of those things are there, but don’t try to sell it to me as ‘country’. Texas music is all about the talent that grows deep in its heart… and all the varied sounds it fosters.

Cori Lynn has a sound that would do well on the current country charts. My hope is she’ll stick with her Texas roots and allow someone whose heart is in Texas music to keep her grounded. I think her grandfather, Barry Corbin can help with that. But that’s another profile.

Best of luck at the awards, Cori Lynn.

Country Blessings!